List of Japanese food to try

Hello

I want to try the following food list that I obtained from Japan-Guide. Can anyone recommend where to have them in Osaka and Kyoto? Please recommend those that are reasonably-priced and accessible.

It will be great if I can try them at one or a few restaurants. But I know it's tough because from what I heard, ramen shops sell only ramen & chow fun, sushi shops sell only sushi, yakitori shops sell mostly yakitori. I will prefer those small shops with a distinct character, as compared to those franchise in malls.

One more question, my friend told me Ichiran Ramen is delicious and popular in Japan. Are there any outlets at Osaka or Kyoto?

Donburi
Kare Raisu (Curry Rice)
Chazuke (Ochazuke)
Kayu
Soba
Somen
Oden
Sukiyaki
Shabu Shabu
Tonkatsu
Yakiniku
Nikujaga

Tonkatsu - I love Katsukura in Kyoto!
http://www.fukunaga-tf.com/katsukura/menu.html

Soba - Udon is more popular in that area, I think?
Try "Ketsune Udon" in Osaka. (It's called "Kitsune Udon" in other area.)
Udon http://www.d-imai.com/menu/menu_udon.html
Soumen http://www.d-imai.com/menu/menu_kisetsu.html

And if you love Toufu, try Yuba in Kyoto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLsdpP_owzg

Not on your list - Okonomiyaki - I have found it in railway stations and from street vendors:

http://www.japan-guide.com/r/e100.html

Cooked a little differently in Osaka than Hiroshima - I recommend both.

Ichiran�iˆê—–�j has a shop but also to Kyoto to Osaka.
http://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/index.html

I think Okonomiyaki is better in the Hiroshima style but any style will do. Try Issen Yoshoku (šã‘K—m�H) in Gion, Kyoto.

I agree that Okonomiyaki is a must try if you are coming to Osaka. I bet it will be the next big thing coming out from Japan.
http://www.botejyu.co.jp/

As for Ramen, the local ramen ranking shows Ramen Yahichi (North Ward), Muteppou (Naniwa Ward), and Ramen Jinsei (Fukushima Ward) is the top three ramen shops in Osaka. Most of these popular shops make you wait over an hour in line so you should go before noon to avoid the lunch crowd.
http://osaka.ramendb.supleks.jp/rank?state=osaka

Your list is very basic, and you can hit any Japanese restaurants owned by Japanese in your local area to have decent dish. Why don't you try some of thing that it'd be hard to find outside of Japan while you are here?

The local savories in Osaka that I can think of are Tecchiri (Fugu Pot), Harihari Nabe (Whale Pot), Hamo (Pike Conger), and Battera (Box Pressed Sushi) but I assume you aren¡¯t that interested in Seafood observing the items on your list. Maybe you can try Kushi-Katsu which is a form of katsu squawked with bamboo sticks.
http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~gojyouya1/

Kyoto has a long history for food and maybe you can try Yudohu (Hot Tofu), Yuba (Paper-like Tofu) or Nishin Soba (Soba with Herrings). If you have a sweet-tooth, you can have Maccha (Green Tea) Ice cream. Kyoto is the birthplace of Green Tea Ice cream.
http://www.giwon-komori.com/

Kyoto is also known for ramen with very thick soup, which is considered to have its own category as ¡°Kyoto Ramen¡±.
http://www.tenkaippin.co.jp/
http://www.shinpuku.net/

Donburi in Osaka
Kadonoya (Kita Ward, Osaka) ©\ This restaurant is produced by the famous Japanese cuisine group, Kagaman. Dining is costly but you can have Katsu-Don or Oyako-Don lunch for 1,000 yen.
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/k033905/lang/en/

Curry Rice in Osaka
Rika Shokudo (Kita Ward, Osaka) ¨C This place is my favorite place. 600~1,000 yen.
http://www.rikasyokudo.com/

Umm, I¡¯m getting tired... You have to consider the season you are visiting because Japanese are very season-conscious and some items on your list can be seasonal, like Shabu Shabu and Oden for winter and Somen for summer.

Dear jomonstrider

I guess you are right but I referred to the list in Japan Guide as I thought it was comprehensive enough. You mean there are more "special" dishes outside of the list?

No I love seafood. Haha. But I don't think I will eat Whale Pot because I cannot imagine eating whale meat. I feel that whales are exquisite animals. Is it real whale meat?

Where can I eat the special turtle (can't remember the Japanese name) that Japanese ladies love to absorb the collagen?

I'm going in September. Any seasonal foods to try? Maybe not so much as it's still summer?

Suppon[‚·‚Á‚Û‚ñ] = special turtle
http://youtu.be/nHa8j83J4zk
Nabe[“ç] style famous :D
http://youtu.be/VBdzEoPf79s
drinking raw bloods and eating heart and other all parts good.
http://tabelog.com/restaurant/images/Rvw/1780/1780632.jpg

Similar "collagen nabe" by chicken cheaper.
http://youtu.be/GZvkONpeAbI

Suppon is not cheap sometimes as "challenge food(ƒQƒeƒ‚ƒm—¿—�/gete-mono ryori)" for young :D

I guess you are right but I referred to the list in Japan Guide as I thought it was comprehensive enough. You mean there are more "special" dishes outside of the list?

That list is far from comprehensive. Its really just a list of common Japanese foods found nationwide. If you add specialty/regional foods the list will grow ten times as long ;)

Is it real whale meat?

Of course, but its a rare dish. I had whale a few times and wasn't very impressed. Horse on the other hand... delicious!

Where can I eat the special turtle (can't remember the Japanese name) that Japanese ladies love to absorb the collagen?

Suppon is often served in specialty shops and is relatively expensive. Here's a list of some stores:

http://rds.gnavi.co.jp/lang/en/?word=%E3%81%99%E3%81%A3%E3%81%BD%E3%82...

Whale meat isn't so rare, but Osaka and Kyoto are not famous for whale.

Whale meat, such as whale sushi is not bad, but whale bacon is delicious!

ODEN is available in most convenience stores

Japanese food is often mentioned in connection with a healthy diet because of the large amount of fish and vegetables eaten. Even in Japanese home-style cooking, a lot of fresh, seasonal fish and vegetables are cooked and people enjoy the natural cycle of the seasons.

Ne, I clicked on your first video and I feel sick as I watch the chef trying to slice the live turtle. I quickly exit the video. Do we have to watch the whole preparation? It's so scary.

Is it true that Japanese women who eats this dish have beautiful skin? How many times must they eat per month?

Yllwsmrf, horse meat?!! Is it common in Japan? I don't see it around. I also cannot imagine eating horse meat. Do you know anything about duck dishes? Seems like duck is not very common or popular.

Sd, what's Oden?

e.g. of ingredients
http://www.sej.co.jp/sej/html/products/ff/oden/

ODEN is the food that some ingredients(boiled egg, japanese radish or so) are stewed in hot soup.
we often eat in winter.

Sd, it won't be winter when I go. Hence I don't think there will be Oden available?

some stores sale oden all the year round
i dont know which store sales oden
sorry

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned "Goya chanpuru" yet.
Certainly try it when you visit Okinawa.

Do we have to watch the whole preparation? It's so scary.

Generally most types of restaurants, besides sushi and maybe teppanyaki, do not usually show the food preparation. I'm sure some places may do it, but I would not expect to see them prepare the turtle in front of you.

Is it true that Japanese women who eats this dish have beautiful skin? How many times must they eat per month?

Its supposed to be high it collagen which is thought to be good for your skin. I don't know how well its proven to work, but most likely, people that eat turtle on a regular basis for this reason a)care about their appearance and b)are willing to spend large amounts of money on it, so they will probably already have nice skin to begin with.

Yllwsmrf, horse meat?!! Is it common in Japan? I don't see it around. I also cannot imagine eating horse meat.

It's fairly common, and usually served raw as horse sashimi (basashi) or yukke (a korean dish). Its far from exotic, however, and you probably wouldn't be able to tell it apart from a good cut of beef unless someone told you.

Do you know anything about duck dishes? Seems like duck is not very common or popular.

Duck broth is not uncommon for specialty soba soup. You don't see the meat used much though outside of chinese restaurants.